The\u00a0first use of roller skates\u00a0were said to be in a London stage performance as early as 1743, with John Joseph Merlin claiming the first skate invention while living in London in 1760.<\/p>\n They even featured during World War II when the U.S. had the idea of using them to move infantry around Europe to save gas \u2013 an idea that didn\u2019t materialize.<\/p>\n In the U.S. they first became a popular pastime in 1935 and when skating rinks playing disco music were introduced in the 1970s the hobby became all the rage.<\/p>\n For those of a certain age you may remember those heavy metal skates that attached to your shoes and adjusted as your feet grew. But you may not remember a metal object that came with these skates that most skaters wore around their neck.<\/p>\n Images of the copper-colored object are being shared on social media sites with many taking a guess that it\u2019s a bottle opener or some kind of tool.<\/p>\n It is in fact a skate key, and for those skating before the 1970s it was essential to anyone with roller skates.<\/p>\n Skates would be strapped to your shoe and the size could be adjusted using the skate key.<\/p>\n The key would fit into the back of the pair of skates and most people would wear the key around their neck so they wouldn\u2019t lose it while skating.<\/p>\n Songs have even been written about this important piece of skating equipment.<\/p>\n Do you remember skate keys? Please share your skating stories with us on our Facebook page.<\/strong>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/viralhatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/rollerskating.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Skate](\"https:\/\/viralhatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Skate-keys-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"rollfast](\"https:\/\/viralhatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/rollfast.jpg\")
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